The First Principles of the Oracles of God, Part 5
Q. What is our ceremoniall observance?
A. The celebration of the two Sacraments, Baptism and the Lords Supper.
Q What is a Sacrament?
A. It is an holy ceremony wherein external sensible things by the appointment of Christ are separate from common use, to signifie, exhibite and seal to us that assurance of eternall life by Christ Iesus, according to the covenant of his grace, Gen. 17. 9, 10.
Q. Which are the Sacraments?
A. They are two, Baptism and the Lord Supper.
Q. What is the externall sensible part of Baptism?
A. Water, John 3. 23.
Q. What is the inward and spirituall part of Baptism, signified, exhibited, and sealed thereby?
A. Christs Righteousnesse and his Spirit,
1. Washing away our sin, and so delivering us spom death.
2. Presenting us clear before the Father, and so restoring us again to life, Rom. 4. 1 Cor. 2. 11. Mat. 3. 11.
Q. What follows from hence?
A. 1. That it is a Sacrament of our new birth and ingrafting into Christ, John 3. 5.
2. That as we are perfectly justified at once, and being new-born once, shall never dye again. Hence this Seal is to be Administred but once.
Q. What is the externall and sensible part of the Lords Supper?
A. Bread and Wine, with the Sacramentall actions about the same.
Q What is the inward and spiritual part of it, signified, sealed, and exhibited thereby?
A. The body and bloud of Christ crucified, offered and given to nourish and strengthen beleevers, renewing their faith unto eternal life, 1 Cor. 11. 24. John 6. 54, 55.
Q. What follows from hence?
A. 1. That it is the Sacrament of our growth in Christ, being new-born, because it is food given to nourish us, having received life.
2. That therefore it is to be administred and received often that we may grow.
3. That children and fools, and wicked, ought not to partake of the Sacrament, because they cannot examin themselves, and so renew their Faith, 1 Cor. 11. 28.
Q. Ought not the Sacrament to be administred to carnal people, if they have been baptized?
A. No, because such as are not within the Covenant, have no right to the seal of the Covenant.
Q. Where are Believers, who have right unto this Sacrament, to seek fruition from it?
A. Because it ought not to be administred privately, (as the Papists would) hence Gods people are to seek to enjoy their right to it in some particular visible Church, in joyning with them, as fellow-members of the same body, 1 Cor. 11. 20, 22. 1 Chron. 10. 17. Acts 2. 42.
Q What Members ought every particular visible Church to consist of?
A. Christ being head of every particular Church, and it his body, hence none are to be members of the Church, but such as are members of Christ by faith, 1 Cor. 1. 2. 1 Thes. 1.
Q. But do not Hypocrites, and no true Members of Christ creep in?
A. Yes, but if they could have been known to be such, they ought to be kept out, and when they are known, they are orderly to be cast out, Mat. 25. 1. 2 Tim. 3. 5. Rev. 2. 20. Tit. 3. 20.
Q. Are these Members bound only to cleave to Christ their head by Faith?
A. Yes, and to one another also by brotherly love, which they are bound to strengthen and confirm (as well as their faith) by a solemn Covenant, Eph. 4. 15, 16. Col. 1. 4. Jer. 50. 4. Isa. 56. 45. Zach. 11. 14. Zeph. 3. 9. Psal. 119. 106.
Q. What benefits are there by joyning thus to a particular Church?
A: 1. Hereby they come to be under the special Governmen… of Chr…st in his Church, and the Officers thereof. Isa. 30. 20.
2. Hereby they have the promise of special bless…ng, and on their children also. Psal. 133. 3. Exod. 20. 6.
3. Herein they have the promise of Gods special presence.
1. Reveuling unto them his Will, Psal. 27. 4. Psal. 63. 2, 3.
2. Protecting them, Isa. 44. 6.
3. Hea…ing all their Prayers, Deut. 4. 7. Mat. 18. 19.
Q. Are there not some who never find these benefits?
A. Yes, Because many knowing not how to make use of Gods Ordinances, not feeling a need of Gods presence only in them, their sin also b…inding, & partly hardning their hearts, and polluting Gods h…se, they then become worse when they have best means, Mat. 11. 23. ser. 17. 5, 6. Heb. 6. 8. 1 Sam. 5. 8, 9. Eze. 14. 4. 1 King. 8. 21.
Q. What are the miseries of those who carelesly, and wilfully despise, and so refuse to joyn to Gods Church?
A. Besides the losse of Gods presence in the fellowship of his people, it is a fearful sign (continuing so) God never intends to save their soals, Acts 2. 47. Isa. 60. 12. Rev. 2. 23, 24.
Q. What therefore ought people chiefly to labour for, and to hold forth unto the Church, that so they may be joyned to it?
A. A three-fold work.
1. Of Humiliation, under their misery, death, and sin, as their greatest evil, Act. 2. 37. Mat. 3. 6.
2. Of Vocation, or their drawing to Christ, out of this misery, as to their greatest, and only good, Acts …. 38, 41.
3. Of new Obedience, how they have walked in Christ since called, Act. 9. 26, 27. Mat. 3. 8.
FINIS.
End of the text · Thomas Shepard, The First Principles of the Oracles of God (1655)